I was fishing a smallmouth tournament last weekend up here in Washington State and was on a great pattern of catching 4# smallies in 3' of water or less. They were hitting my Zara Super Spook so hard that almost every fish missed it the first time but most of them came back at it for another shot....quite a few hit it 3 or 4 times. The hook up/landing ratio was terrible. Does anyone have a stinger hook idea that would work on walking baits? I was thinking a small piece of braid off the back of the bait with a small treble or something???

Have you replaced the hooks and added split rings? Ive heard this could help your issue

Sounds like you need better hooks.

One reason I do not like the KVD hooks, they turn in to much for baits that fish slap at like top water.

Put a true round bend on and you will get better hook up ratios.

Ive experimented with the swinging single hooks that I use on my saltwater jigging slabs. Theyre okay but I prefer aftermarket trebles better. I usually put KVD triple grips on the front 2 hooks and for the back, a round bend VMC that I dress myself with marabou and feathers.

Change out the #4 hooks that come on it to #2 size. Keep an eye on those split rings. While you are in the store get the salt water stainless steel rings, they are heavier.

I like the Round Bend short shank hooks personally; but I am putting the KVD Triple Grip short shanks on my custom Super Spooks that I sell.

tie a 2 foot leader to the back hook with a small crappie jig on the end.

Use Owner ST41's in a #2 with Hyperwire split rings and see your hookup ratio increase...

I use the salt water zara with salt water hooks that are sticky sharp. My problem sometimes is too many hooks in the fish.

I have always switched them out with #2 Gamakatsu trebles. The problem was more in that the fish were missing the bait. They were so shallow that they were hitting it sideways and pushing the bait 3 or 4 feet. I was thinking some sort of swinging trailer behind the bait would be a good way but don't want to tangle and cause problems.

I haven't been around too many Smallmouth; but some days bass are just like that. If they want it they will get it. Down size to the Jr. Spook and put the feather hook on the back. I bet that will solve your problem.

I'm not sure that adding a "stinger" is the answer here, it may cause more problems than it solves by impeding the action of the spook. I think Donald has probably given you the best advice in downsizing as this might get the fish to commit to the bait on the initial blow up. It's typical for fish to try and stun a top water bait the size of a super spook before it comes back for a second run at it, which is why you'll see so many hookups outside the mouth if you get the hookup on the first go round. The good news is that you are getting strikes......If they haven't loaded up the rod on the first blow up be patient and let them come back for the second.

I've experimented a lot with a braid or wire attached stinger option on a spook. Thus far, its all been a bust. You've been given great advice above about round bend hooks but it sounds like you were already doing that.
My best advice is to switch your front treble to a red hook. I don't want to get into a red hook argument but I assure you after vast experimentation that it will absolutely control HOW (not if) a smallmouth eats a topwater. You can move that hook and control how they'll approach the bait. Its the only way I've ever found to get them to consistently target the front of the bait and end up with a hook in the mouth and a spare in the cheek. Good luck!

Awesome advice guys thanks. I don't mean to complain because I still won the tournament with 19.8 pounds of smallies. It's just frustrating to execute so poorly. I like the red hook idea and I've done it with jerkbaits. Thanks again.

Maybe the fish were purposely hitting that way. Watching some underwater videos shows the fish slapping the bait as if to stun them before they come around and eat them. Might try to stop the bait a second or 2 after the first blow up. But good hooks is the best place to start.